4G LTE from AT&T officially launches in Triangle

Early adopters with AT&T LTE capable devices have already experienced the faster speeds over the new network as the carrier implemented the technology. Today AT&T removes the curtains for LTE in Raleigh and Chapel Hill to make it official. AT&T is aggressively rolling out its LTE coverage and testing in additional markets. In November AT&T Wireless rolled out its 4G Long Term Evolution network in Charlotte along with several other markets. AT&T’s LTE offers much faster data transfer than its 4G HSPA+ network that many devices access including the iPhone 4S.

The N&O’s tests on an LTE tablet have reached as high as 18 MBps down and 7 MBps up. AT&T offers several devices including smartphones, tablets and modems that can utilize the LTE network: Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket, LG Nitro HD, HTC Jetstream tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G, and AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G. Verizon beat AT&T to the punch deploying much of its LTE coverage already, but a recent report gives AT&T’s a slight edge in speed for now. Verizon has also confirmed customer complaints of recent LTE outages, but says it’s 3G network was unaffected. AT&T notes that its 4G +HSPA network, though slower than LTE, will help customers avoid steep drop-off in speeds when they move out of LTE areas.